Switch mechanism.



J. H. RICHARDS.

SWITCH MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 16, IQIB.

Patented Dec. 23, 1919.

m T M w m w UNITED srarns PATENT onnion.

JUT' US H. RICHARDS, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO SPLITDOEF ELECTRICAL COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

SWITCH MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

original application filed December 2, 1916, Serial No. 134,750. Divided and this application filed January To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JULIUS H. RICHARDS, a citiZen of theUnited States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch Mechanism, of which the following is a specification. i

Generally speaking this invention relates to means for controlling the source of power for dynamo electric machines, which machines may be adapted for a variety of functions, and with which said switching device is designed to cooperate to the attainment of the purposes desired. In particular the present invention contemplates a switch device involving such features of construction and operation as to render it especially applicable to the control of dynamo motors of the class known as starting motors, whose duty it is to furnish the necessary power for the starting of prime movers, as for instance the internal combustion engine of automobiles and similar autovehicles. In my patents for engine starters #nesrssr and #l,227,0()3, patented January 29. 1918, and May 22, 19 .7, respectively. there are shown two types of witches used in conjunction with starting motors and whose operations are well described therein. This present application is a division of my co-pemling application. Serial No. 134,750. filed December 2, 1916. It is then one of the objects of my present invention to provide a switching mechanism of the class shown in said applications but involving several improvements in construction and arrangement of part to be hereinafter described; and it further aims, when used in connection with starting motors to fulfil the wide range of retpiirements which a device of this character is called upon to meet owing to the va rious types of starting systems now used for automobile engines.

-;\nother object is to design the several members such that they may be conveniently and compactly arranged in a switch housing whereby the whole mechanism may be attached as a single structure in some suitable. location relative to the motor with which it is adapted to cooperate.

These and other objects will be readily understood by those skilled in the art from Serial No. 212,097.

a consideration of the following description taken together with the accompanying drawings which constitute a part ofthis specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view with certain parts shown in section, and with the cover removed to illustrate the interior construction of my switch, and also showing certain external devices cooperating with the switch proper toperform whatever other function for which it is suitably adapted. A

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1, partly in section, with a portion of the housing structure broken away, and further showing in dotted lines an electric motor, whose circuits are to be controlled by the switch. There is also seen in this view the manner in which the forces applied for the purpose of actuating the switch may be transmitted through the agency of other switch members and be brought into play to move certain parts of the motor itself.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic showing of the circuit connections involved when my switch is applied as the means for controlling electric motors.

ith particular reference to the. drawings wherein like reference symbols designate 'like parts.throughout. l is a mitary strucinvention is especially suited to the control of starting motors. I have shown one method of mounting the housing 1 directly upon the motor frame. being held in place by screws 2. Secured on the inner opposite sides of housing 1 as by bolts 3 and r are two switch blades 5 and (3. The assembly of blade (3 is preferably accomplished by an oblong hole therein through which bolt 4 passes. This provision permits adjustment of said blade in order to vary the time at which the same i contacted by its corres mnding switch runner. hereinafter to be referred to. These blades are properly insulated inany well known manner as by bushing and insulators 5051 from housing 1 and comprise a plurality of strips of resilient metal such as spring copper. Their resiliency may further be increased if desirable by makin one of said strips of steel, (preferably the outer one) while to increase flexibility said blades are, for a portion of their lengths, slotted so that each blade consists of several sections as seen in Fig. 2. Switch blade 5 is seen to be somewhat longer than blade 6, the reason for which will later be explained. Parallelly supported by and adapted to slidably extend through the switch housing 1 are two rods 7 and 8, hereinafter to be termed as the switch rod and pull rod respectively. Within the housing there are two collars 9 and 10 mounted securely upon the rods 7 and 8, and which are adapted to rest adjacent the end wall of said housing when these rods are in their normal position. A very unique method has been employed for securing these collars in place upon their respective rods, which I will now describe. In the end of each collar is a slight counterbore the walls of which are in the nature of a circular groove and the arc of which groove is substantially a semicircle. At points in each rod adjacent the grooves in these collars there is provided a corresponding circular groove. Cooperating with the grooves in the sleeve and rod in each case is a resilient circular ring. Said rings are suitably made of circular stock and are of such diameter and resiliency as to engage both rod and collar to thereby fasten the respective collars firmly in place, yet should it be necessary, the said collars 9 and 10 may readily be removed. The above mentioned rings are shown respectively at 11 and 12. Mounted upon rods 7 and 8 adjacent collars 9 and 10 are shouldered insulating rings 13 and 14 respectively. Sup ported upon the shoulders of said rings are switch runners 15 and 16. These runners are of suitable conducting material as of copper, and are of..U-shaped construction, the arms of which are adapted to slidingly cooperate with each other and with switch blades 5 and 6 to complete the electrical circuit between the bolts 3 and 4. Runner 15 is provided with longer working surfaces than those of runner 16 for a purpose to be described hereinafter. Adjacent the runners 15 and 16 for the purpose of holding the same in place are insulating washers 17 and 18. Said washers are pressed against their respective runners by means of compression springs 19 and 20, which springs have their other ends confined by collars 21 and 22 respectively. A means similar to that described in connection with collars 9 and 10 is used to secure said collars 21 and 22 upon the rods 7 and 8. In order to allow said switch runners considerable freedom of movement upon the rods 7 and 8 I have provided a clearance between the insulating rings 13 and 14 and their respective rods 7 and 8. The advantage of this feature resides in the fact that as said rods are operated to and fro said switch runners are permitted to line themselves up properly and to equalize the lateral pressure they receive by their pressing engagement with blades 5 and 6. In this way said runners bear upon each other evenly and cooperate with their respective switch blades without the liability of any binding or other undesirable results. Disposed about both the switch rod and pull rod are resilient members 23 and 24. These members are designed as compression springs, being adapted-to occupy the space between the collars 21 and 22 respectively and the end of the switch housing. It is the function of these springs to exert their pressure upon the collars 21 and 22'and thereby tend to constantly maintain rods 7' and 8 in their normal positions as shown in the figures. Suitable covers 45 and 46 are attached to the housing 1 as by screws 47 to provide a protecting inclosure for the working elements of the switch mechanism.

Considering now the remaining portion of my switch mechanism, and in particular the portion disposed exterior of the housing wherein the switch proper is contained, it will be seen that the housing structure 1 also carries two rods 25 and 26. Said housing is provided with two circular recesses into which the rods 25 and 26 are adapted to be forced to secure the same rigidly in place substantially parallel to the above mentioned rods 7 and 8. Slidably mounted upon rods 25 and 26 and guided thereby is a member 27, which for obvious reasons is suitably termed a force transmitting member. Said member is securely attached to switch rod 7 as by nuts 28 and is also provided with a depending portion 29. Carried by guide rods 25 and 26 and fastened thereto by set screws 30 is a brace 31, which idingly supports the pull rod 8 in its longitudinal move ment. At the other end'of said pull rod is a connecting link 32 adapted to be connected to any suitable system of levers whereby said rod receives its operating force. Also carried by rod 8 is a device generally indicated at 33 which is adapted to cooperate with a pawl 34 on member 27 in such a way that a pull applied to link 32 to move rod 8 longitudinally is transmitted by the force transmitting member 27 to switch rod 7, whereby said switch rod and member 27 are moved forward with pull rod 8. I will not attempt to give a detail description of the device 33 as this has been fully described in the above mentioned Patent #1,254,851, issued J anuary 29, 1918. Suflice it to say that in the operation just described, should for any rea son the motion of member 29 be obstructed before runners 15 and 16 had completed the circuit between blades 5 and 6, said device 33 becomes effective to permit pull rod 8, carrying collar 48 held in working position on rod 8 by snap ring 49 and whichcollar is slidable in barrel 33, to continue'in its movement independently of switch rod 7 to carry switch runner 16 forward and finally complete the circuit between said blades. And furthermore it will be obvious that the results obtained by thus closing the switch may be made instrumental in removing said obstruction to thereby restore device 33 to its normal condition.

Describing the operation of my switch, let it be assumed that this switch is to be used in connection with a starting motor as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. All parts are in their normal position, the blade 5 being suiiiciently long to permanently contact runner 15 to guidingly hold both runners 15-and 16 in proper working relationship. If a force is now applied to rod 8 said rod is moved longitudinally, and through the cooperation of members 27 and 33 rod 7 is likewise moved until switch runners 15 and 16 have assumed the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, to close theelectric circuit through the motor M and battery B. At the same time the portion 29 of the force transmitting member is also moved longitudinally, and which motion may. be adapted to connect the motor to the engine to be started. Just previous to the time runners 15 and 16, have acquired the position shown in dotted lines, pawl 34: engages the head of a bolt 35 which effects an unlocking of the rods 7 and 8 and thereby places rod 7 in condition to be returned due to the starting 'of the engine. Likewise said unlocking operation also renders pull rod 8 independent of rod 7 and when released will return to its normal position under the force of spring 24. It was noted above that runner 15 was somewhat longer than runner 16. The reason for this is, that should switch rod 7 be arrested in its movement as by an obstruction to the motion of the force transmitting member 27, above described, the arms of runner 15 will be suiiiciently long to maintain contact with runner 16 w'iile the latter is moving forward to engage switch blade 6 to thereby complete the circuit through the motor. matic 8 resin improvements both in construction and efficiency of operation. Among these is the feature of providing a clearance between rods 7 and 8 and the insulating rings 13 and l t, which support switch runners 15 and 16 respectively. In this way said runners keep themselves properly alined at all times- Another feature is the use of springs 19 and 20 which, in contradistinction to the devices shown in the above said applications, maintain a constant pressure upon runners 15 and 16 for all positions of rods 7 and 8. By the use of these springs I am enabled to space the collars 21 and 22 from the switch runners sufficiently. to avoid any danger of interference therewith, while at the same time the process of assembling is very much sim- A particular feature of my switch, as shown herein, resides in the fact that while being operated to close or open the circuit but one contact is actually made or broken. By such a provision the arcing of contacts is greatly reduced, an important item where heavy currents are involved.

It is to be understood that the language of this specification is merely descriptive of my invention. 1 am well aware that many changes and alterations may be made in the embodiments shown without departing from the spirit of said invention and the scope of the appended claims, and I therefore do not care to be limited to the exact details shown and described.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. A switch mechanism havingin combination, a unitary housing member, switch blades Within said housing on opposite sides thereof, two rods supported by said housing and disposed parallel to extend therethrough for longitudinal movement in either direction, runners upon each of said rods, resiiient means to hold said runners in place. one of said runners being continually in contact with one of said switch blades and the other of said runners being normally out of contact with the other of said blades. a second resilient means serving to hold said rods in their normal position, a force transmitting member upon one of said rods, and means whereby when a pull is applied to the other of said rods said force transmittingher is moved to move the first mentioned here. cctricalljv connect said u the medium A w itch he and means whereby said actuating members may be moved either together or independently.

3. A switch mechanism, havin in combination, a housing, stationary switch blades therein, movable switch members adapted to establish an electrical connection between said blades, members for manually actuating said movable members, one of said movable members being in constant engagement with one of said blades and with the other of said movable members during the establishment of said electrical connection. the last said movable member being adapted to engage and disengage the other of said blades when said actuating members are operated, whereby only one contact is made or broken.

4. A switch mechanism having in combination, a housing, a pair of actuating rods extending therethrough, switch blades mounted within said housing, a switch runner carried by each of said rods and adapted when actuated thereby to establish an electrical connection between said blades, one of said blades being in constant connection with one of said runners to guidingly "hold the same in proper alinement, resilient members upon said rods for holding said runners in position thereon and collars fastened to said rods for holding said resilient members in working position.

5. A switch mechanism having in combination, a housing, a pair of actuating rods extending therethrough, switch blades mounted within said housing, a switch runner loosely carried by each of said rods intermediate of said blades and adapted when actuated. thereby to establish an electrical connection between said blades, one of said blades being in constant engagement with one of said runners to guidingly hold the same in proper alinement, collars attached to said rods, resilient members supported by said rods and abutting against said collars for holding said runners in position thereon, and additional resilient members to hold said actuating rods in normal inoperative position.

6. A switch mechanism having in combination, a housing, a pair of actuating rods extending therethrough, switch blades mounted within said housing with their working surfaces substantially parallel to said rods, a switch runner flexibly mounted upon each of said rods, held in place by a spiral spring, said runners being adapted to establish an electrical connection between said blades when actuated by said rods, one of said blades being adapted to constantly engage one of said runners to guidingly hold it, and the second runner, through the first in proper alinement on said rods.

7. A switch mechanism having in combination, a housing structure, stationary switch members supported therein, a plurality of movable rods extending through and supported by said housing, a; plurality of switch runners within said housing and flexibly carried by said rods, one of said runners being in continuous contact with one of said stationary switch members. means exterior of said housing cooperating between said rods whereby the same are adapted to move together after a force is applied to one of them. to carry said switch runners into circuit making relationship with said switch blades whereby pressure of said blades on said flexibly carried runners causes said runners to aline themselves and equalize the pressure of said blades, said c0- operating means rendering said rods independent of each other after said runners have been moved into circuit relationship with said switch blades.

8. A switch mechanism having in combination, a unitary housing structure, switch blades mounted within said housing on opposite sides thereof, a pull rod and a switch rod supported by said housing and extending therethrough, runners mounted upon said rods in permanent electrical contact with each other and with one of said switch blades, flexible means to hold said runners in operative position upon said rods, means for applying force to said pull rod, a lock mg device between said rods exterior of said housing such that when pull is exerted upon said pull rod both rods are moved together to carry said runners into electrical contact with said switch blades whereby the pressure from said blades is transmitted through said runners and flexible means and thereby equalized, and means coacting with said lockin device for releasing the same after said electrical contact has been made.

9. A switch mechanism having in combination, a housing, a pair of substantially parallel rods passing through and supported by said housing, switch blades of unequal length mounted on opposite sides of the interior of said housing in such a manner that one blade projects beyond the other, electrical contact members flexibly carried by but insulated from said rods in continuous engagement with each other and the longer of said switch blades. means for interlocking said rods whereby movement of one produces movement of the other to close an electrical circuit from the longer of said switch blades to the shorter through said electrical contacts carried by said rods, and means for unlocking said rods after the. electrical circuit has been completed.

10. A switch mechanism having in combination, a housing. a pair of actuating rods extending therethrough, switch blades mounted within said housing, a switch runner carried by each of said rods and adapted when actuated thereby to establish an electrical connection between said blades, one of said blades being in constant connection with one of said runners to guidingly hold the same in proper alinement, collars attached to said rods, resilient members upon said rods positioned between the housing and said collars for returning said rods to their normal position, said collars being positioned on said rods beyond the line of said runners whereby short circuits between said collars and runners are prevented.

11. A switch mechanism having in combination, a housing, a pair of actuating rods extending therethrough, switch blades mounted within said housing having the working surface of one longer than the working surface of the other, U-shaped runners carried by said rods and adapted when actuated thereby to establish an electrical connection between said blades, said runners being in permanent contact with each other and with the longer switch blade whereby said switch runners are guided in their operation by said rods.

In witness whereof, I affix my signature.

JULIUS H. RICHARDS. 

